Inauguration of Iran's first saffron onion gene bank in Torbat Heydarieh

Iran's first saffron onion gene bank was opened in collaboration with the Saffron Creativity, Education, Support and Exploitation Club (OSEC) and the National Research Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on the 3rd of Azar 1401.

The opening ceremony of the first saffron onion gene bank with the presence of a group of high-ranking scientific, academic and industrial officials, including the presence of the president and vice presidents of the National Research Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the president and senior managers of the Faculty of Agriculture of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, representatives of the people of Torbet Haidarieh, Zaveh and Mehwalat, representatives of the Scientific and Technological Development Headquarters of Medicinal Plants of the Scientific Vice President, the mayor of Torbat Heydarieh, the head of the Rural Cooperation Organization along with other senior managers of the University of Tehran, Torbat Heydarieh University, and the Saffron Research Institute It was held in Torbet-Hydaria, Food Science and Industry Research Institute, Torbet-Hydaria House of Industry, Mining and Trade, high-ranking national managers and some activists of the country's saffron ecosystem.

With the aim of turning Iran into a world center of saffron research and development, Saffron Onion Gene Bank seeks to create scientific and technological infrastructure in the field of saffron onion genetic modification. The main goal of this saffron ecosystem research center of the country is to investigate the genetic factors and genetic modification of saffron onion in order to increase the quality of Iranian saffron in the world markets, reduce production waste, optimize the yield of saffron onion per hectare and increase the productivity of saffron onion. The most important key objectives of opening the first saffron gene bank in Iran are as follows:

• 1) Improving the global status of Iranian saffron
• 2) Sustainable development of saffron industry in domestic and foreign markets
• 3) Improving the quality of saffron per unit area by using new technologies

The vision of opening the first saffron onion gene bank in Iran through the use of modern biological methods and research on genetic factors affecting the quality of saffron is to improve the level of self-sufficiency, export and protection of the national strategic product, Iran's red gold.